Disney World Added Over $40 Billion to Florida Economy Last Year

Image: Minnie and Mickey greet park guests at Walt Disney World. (photo via Visit Orlando) (Photo Credit: (photo via Visit Orlando))
Image: Minnie and Mickey greet park guests at Walt Disney World. (photo via Visit Orlando) (Photo Credit: (photo via Visit Orlando))
Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 9:40 AM ET, Wed November 15, 2023

Another salvo has been fired in the battle between the Disney Company and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Disney cited a study conducted by Oxford Economics, covering the fiscal year 2022, that showed it provided a $40.3 billion impact to Central Florida, where Walt Disney World is located, and is responsible for 263,000 jobs.

That, the company said, was before the governor disbanded Disney’s self-governing oversight district last year and replaced it with several self-appointed members in a new board.

Disney and DeSantis have conducted verbal warfare for almost two years now, ever since the company publicly questioned the governor’s policy on teaching gender identification to small children. It was dubbed the ‘don’t say gay’ law.

The governor responded by stripping Disney of its self-governing Reedy Creek Improvement District and appointing his own oversight committee.

Lawsuits are pending in both state and federal courts.

The company said that the 263,000 jobs are triple the workforce at Disney World but include such ancillary things as contractors. The study found that Disney is responsible for one in every eight jobs in Central Florida.

While some people applaud the governor’s efforts in taking on the entertainment giant, still others question his motivation for battling the state’s biggest employer.

Disney said its free speech rights were violated and that the governor acted in a retaliatory measure.

It was just in September that Disney CEO Bob Iger promised to tone down the feud with the governor.


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